Hello neighbors!
Following this holiday weekend, Ann Arbor City Council will consider a fairly short agenda and host two public hearings. Commenters can weigh in on final approval for amendments to the vegetation ordinance (B-1) and a brownfield agreement to support affordable housing through the Ann Arbor Community Land Trust (DS-1). Council will also consider a resolution directing the preparation of a memo to inform residents about a public-private partnership agreement with private developers (DC-2). The terms of that agreement will commit the city to financially support a project at State and Eisenhower, called “Arbor South.”
A2Council Update Video
After every City Council meeting I send out an “A2Council Update” newsletter, which includes a summary video. Here is my A2Council Update video from the Council meeting of November 17, 2025:
Washtenaw County Government: Lockdowns at the Jail
For some time, residents have urged me to pay closer attention to work happening at the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Last week, the Board discussed budget shortfalls and funding for the County sheriff’s department. Sheriff Alyshia Dyer (elected in 2024) presented data to the Board, explaining budget needed to cover the cost of food, medical care, and adequate staffing at the County jail.
You can watch my 20 minute summary of last week’s seven hour meeting here:
I also posted about this video on my website:
https://a2elnel.com/post/washtenaw-county-board-of-commissioners-funding-for-the-county-jail/
Other local media coverage of that meeting:
https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2025-11-20/washtenaw-county-sheriff-talks-about-budget-with-county-commission
On my YouTube channel, I have several explanatory videos about our local democracy, including both City and County level offices. You can find those videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPDgzaa5Kc1LCEr40Tv-WmzVSD0AUsq_g
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Agenda
Below is my summary of issues on the City Council Agenda this week, with links to more information about each of them. If you have comments about any of these issues, you can email all of Council at CityCouncil@a2gov.org
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting
Monday, December 1 2025 7:00PM
Ann Arbor City Hall (2nd Floor)
301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor 48104
The full agenda (including a link to the latest published PDF agenda, and instructions for dialing into the meeting) is on the A2Gov Legistar website:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1251594&GUID=2DB4FA44-205C-4BCA-81EA-474649BB3B09
City Council meetings are broadcast live by CTN on Comcast (channel 16) and AT&T (channel 99) and online at a2gov.org/watchCTN
Meetings are also streamed live on the CTN YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ctnannarbor
How to reserve public comment
People that wish to comment at a City Council meeting must sign up with the City Clerk’s office in advance. Speakers are allotted 3 minutes, with the first 15 speakers allowed to speak in a 45 minute session near the beginning of the meeting. Remaining speakers will speak at the end of the Council meeting. Public comment can be made either in person or remotely via phone/Zoom audio.
To sign up for public comment, please go to or call the City Clerk’s Office at 734-794-6140 on the day of the meeting between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. At 4:00 PM, all speakers that have signed up are randomly ordered in “priority groups”. After 4:00 PM, speakers are added to the end of the applicable priority group in the order received. No new speakers will be added to the list after 5:00 PM. For more information, visit the City’s website:
https://www.a2gov.org/city-council/council-meetings-overview/
Questions to the Agenda
In preparation for a Council meeting, Council members can ask questions of staff about scheduled agenda items. Questions must be submitted by noon on the Wednesday before a Council Meeting, and answers are returned the next day (Thursday) by 5pm.
Agenda Response Memo and eComments
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
When this newsletter was published, this document was not posted to Legistar. It has been two months since Council Members have asked questions to the agenda.
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-2023) Appointments – Confirmations
This appointment from the Mayor was presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Sheila Rasouli – Renters Commission
Consent Agenda
Below is the list of items included on the Consent Agenda. If no one on Council specifically requests that an item be pulled for discussion, the whole of this list will be approved in a single vote.
CA-1 (25-1952) Resolution to Approve Street Closures for the Downtown Ann Arbor Midnight Madness Events on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 9:00 AM until Midnight
CA-2 (25-1807) Resolution to Approve Change Order #2 ($522,010.44) to the Construction Contract with Michels Construction, Inc. (Michels) and to Appropriate Additional General Funds in the Amount of $350,000.00 for the Barton Dam Right Embankment Remediation Project (Total Contract $9,974,754.26) (8 Votes Required)
CA-3 (25-1713) Resolution to Approve Amendment 1 to the General Services Agreement with Howden USA Company to Increase Compensation by $67,419.88 to Perform Phase Two Preventative Maintenance Services on Three Turblex/Siemens Process Air Blowers at the Water Resource Recovery Facility (Total $121,320.38)
CA-4 (25-1775) Resolution to Approve a General Services Agreement for the Purchase of Automatic Flushing Units from Core & Main, LP ($201,777.00, ITB No. 4776)
CA-5 (25-1849) Resolution to Increase a Best Source Purchase Order with Safety Services Inc. for As Needed Safety Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment for FY26 ($20,000.00 Increase, Total Purchase Value $45,000.00)
CA-6 (25-1884) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of Four Automated Side Load Drop Frame Refuse Trucks on Autocar Chassis’ from Fredrickson Supply (Sourcewell: $2,179,549.20)
CA-7 (25-1960) Resolution to Approve the Renewal of Interlocal Agreement between City of Dearborn and City of Ann Arbor for Fire Vehicles
CA-8 (25-1901) Resolution to Approve a 2026 Plan Year Exemption of the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, Public Act 152 (8 Votes Required)
CA-9 (25-1899) Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Exeter Associates, Inc. for Consulting Services Related to Development of a Cost of Service Study and Rates for the Sustainable Energy Utility ($312,489.27)
CA-10 (25-1972) Resolution to Accept a Sidewalk Easement at 3035 Brockman Boulevard from Karen G. Richard and Barbara Jo Smith (8 Votes Required)
CA-11 (25-2046) Resolution to Approve the First Renewed and Amended Water Supply Agreement Between the City and Ann Arbor Charter Township
CA-12 (25-2067) Resolution Authorizing Summary Publication of Ordinance 25-33 – An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.16.3.F of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Marijuana Facilities School Separation Distance Reduction)
Public Hearings
Anyone wanting to comment on these issues may speak for 3 minutes, without having specifically reserved time. Issues subject to public hearing will also be up for a vote by Council later in the meeting.
PH-1/B-1 (25-1696) An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 40 (Trees and Other Vegetation) of Title III (Parks and Public Grounds) of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (ORD-25-34)
This item was amended at the November 17th meeting, which reset it back to “first reading”. Ordinance amendments will address guidelines for how trees and vegetation can be cultivated on private property adjacent to streets and sidewalks. Trees, shrubs and vegetation must allow 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet of clearance over streets. Amendments specifically address corners, where growth in a “sight triangle” can obstruct the view of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists: within that sight triangle, vegetation is limited to 30 inches.
PH-2/DS-1 (25-2040) Resolution to Approve a Brownfield Plan for the Townie Homes Project at 1780 and 1788 Scio Church Road, 225 and 235 South Wagner Road, 1535, 1563, 1565 and 1567 South Maple Road, and 1288 and 1369 Jewett Avenue
A brownfield plan will provide funding for the development of ten different parcels, which will create home-ownership opportunities for households earning between 30% and 90% of the Area Median Income (AMI). These properties will be developed by the Ann Arbor Community Land Trust:
- 1780 and 1788 Scio Church Rd
- 225 and 235 S. Wagner Rd
- 1535, 1563, 1565 and 1567 S. Maple Rd.
- 1288 and 1369 Jewett Ave.
Historically, brownfield TIF programs have provided funding for the development of properties that include environmental cleanup and would not be financially viable without support. In 2023, state guidelines for these programs expanded to include residential projects – without environmental cleanup – in communities with a demonstrated need.
A total of $5,049,381 in brownfield funds will support the projects, collecting tax-incremental financing (TIF) over 30 years. The homes will be sold below cost, which is why brownfield funds have been requested and why a staff report recommends approval.
The Ann Arbor Community Land Trust (AACLT) is a Michigan nonprofit corporation with 501(c)3 status that is working to develop more affordable housing in Ann Arbor. The homes they develop are sold at below-market prices and the owners agree to pass on this savings to the next home buyer. This model ensures long-term affordability and community control.
You can learn more about AACLT and how to support their mission here: https://www.a2clt.org/
Ordinances – Second Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances were approved at a previous Council meeting, and are also subject to a public hearing as listed above.
B-1 (25-1696) is the same as PH-1 above
Ordinances – First Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances are being introduced for “first reading”. If approved, the ordinance will be voted on at a subsequent Council meeting (“second reading”), where it will also be subject to a public hearing.
There are no first readings on the agenda
Motions and Resolutions
DC-1 (25-2089) Resolution to Authorize Settlement of Sobhi Abed v. City of Ann Arbor, Daniel Horning, and Citizens United Reciprocal Exchange, Washtenaw County Circuit Court Case No. 25-001097-NI
Litigation between the City and Plaintiff Sobhi Abed will be settled for $19,500. The Plaintiff alleges that a police officer caused injuries and associated damages in a low-speed motor vehicle accident. The City denies the allegations but will resolve this litigation with a settlement agreement in which the Plaintiff releases all claims against the City.
DC-2 (25-2106) Resolution to Provide a Public Summary of the Proposed Public-Private Development Agreement Between the Developer of Arbor South and the City of Ann Arbor
By resolution, Council will direct the City Administrator to prepare a summary of the plan to subsidize a private development called “Arbor South” at State and Eisenhower. The summary will be available to the public and include “negotiated deal points” for a proposed public-private partnership with the developer of Arbor South.
The public-private partnership agreement is over 100 pages long, with additional pages of exhibits. It was most recently attached to “DS-2” from the November 17th agenda. (link)
In the last month, Council Members have attempted to explain this agreement and offered incorrect information to the public, e.g. confusing which party will pay for on-site affordable housing units (answer: the City, using Affordable Housing Millage funds) and misstating what the City would commit to buy from the developer (answer: both land and parking structures, over $160 million).
For more on that, see: https://a2elnel.com/post/arbor-south-public-interest-vs-investor-interest/
The public-private partnership with Arbor South appeared on both November Council agendas. On both November 6 and November 17, the agreement was deleted from the agenda hours before the meeting. Council did not vote to postpone it to a date certain, so it’s unclear when the agreement might appear on another (third) agenda.
DS-1 (25-2040) is the same as PH-2 above
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson